Knuckleballs possible?

Quigs10 · May 16, 2020

My two daughters had their time trying pitching for a few years and then decided it wasnt for them...but as a baseball guy I was always thinking ...I never see a knuckleball type pitch in softball. I know its even rare in baseball...but damn think how effective it would be in softball bcuz nobody would have seen it before. LOL

Ive tried it myself and I guess it just comes down to the size of the ball and grip/hand size. Anyone ever seen a player/pitcher use one...just curious.

radness · May 16, 2020

Debbie Mygind

Amazing pitcher
DAZZLING KNUCKLE BALL
Ball would joggle left and right zero spin.
Saw it from the batters box!

From New Zealand
Inducted World Softball Hall of Fame
Pitched at Cal State Fullerton
Worth a google history in softball!

Bubrox · May 16, 2020

I've seen a few pitchers who throw a change with no spin. Essentially a knuckle ball. Doesn't dart around like a MLB pitcher but has good movement and drops.

lynx · May 16, 2020

We had a lefty who pitched and help us win two state championships....knuckler was her change and it was very effective...lots of movement....threw maybe upper 50's at most with fastball

lynx · May 16, 2020

We had another girl who threw what I thought looked like a split finger pitch...lots of downward movement but not a lot of spin....knuckle action...it was a great pitch and not sure she knew how she threw it...lol

Traps71 · May 16, 2020

Adding one or more knuckles can be an effective way to help take speed off the ball. However, at higher levels of softball (RAD's worthy example notwithstanding) this is generally not used because it is potentially too easy to pick by the batter or third-base coach.

NBECoach · May 16, 2020

Traps71 said:
Adding one or more knuckles can be an effective way to help take speed off the ball. However, at higher levels of softball (RAD's worthy example notwithstanding) this is generally not used because it is potentially too easy to pick by the batter or third-base coach.

In the history of MLB the most successful knuckleball pitchers threw it almost all the time. The hitters knew it was coming and still could not square it up. I think the smaller ball and longer distance contributes to greater movement on the ball. These guys lasted years beyond their hard throwing teammates, and one even made the HOF. If a FP pitcher can duplicate that then he's one very valuable player.

ArmWhip · May 16, 2020

I pitched modified for years in a summer league and the knuckleball was my main pitch. I have played around with throwing it using a windmill motion and found it much harder to get it to not spin. In modified it floated and danced a little, the speed that I could throw was right on the line it terms of having enough velocity to get good movement. I held the ball between my thumb and little finger with my index, middle and ring finger tips on a seam, no knuckles. I played in a couple of tournaments against a guy who was about 6'4" and he threw it fast enough to make it unhittable. But if you put any spin on it it's a cripple and comes straight in.

fanboi22 · May 17, 2020

Me and DD have worked on it, but very hard to do consistently. Another poster i think said it best that hand size will dictate. My DD has big hands so i thought it would work. I was able to do it a few times and when it worked it was a heck of a pitch. I am terrible so no wonder i think it is hard to do. If you haven't, watch Knuckleball! the movie. Fun flick.

Westwind · May 17, 2020

DD goes to a male pitcher to hit. He throws one, calls it The Nuke (Knuke?) and it’s nasty. No spin, weird movement.

Of course he is a 6’4” dude with longer fingers than most women so it may not be a workable plan for most.

Knuckleballs possible?

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Quigs10

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Possibilities & Opportunities!

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